What are the Classics — the Movies that Last?

In the upcoming Pink column, I talk a little about the characteristics of movies that last. Though movies tend to be distinctive, to be great in their own way, they do have some general tendencies. They aren’t great because they have these tendencies. These tendencies are not what makes them classic. And yet it’s rare to find a classic movie — something acknowledged and lauded as great for generations — that doesn’t have, say, at least four of six of these tendencies.

And these tendencies — that of movies that stand the test of time — are as follows:

1) Great movies were often topical when they were new, or in response to something going on in the world at the time. (This can include costume dramas that were, nonetheless, in response to something.)

2) Great movies usually embody timeless human values, things that mean the same today as they did 50 years ago and as they will 50 years from now.

3) Great movies often contain a great performance.

4) Great movies almost always have at least one great, memorable scene, usually two or three.

5) Great movies usually have some overarching consciousness bringing the elements into alignment – a director’s vision, or a writer’s personality.

6) This is the most important: Great movies usually end on a note of complexity, not to be confused with ambiguity. Their endings usually are like the sounding of a chord, with one note perhaps dominant, but with several notes in play and coloring the tone. In this way, they capture some of the fullness of life, which is rarely completely happy or completely sad, but vibrates in all directions.

In a coming gallery we will look at some great movies — and movies readers regard as great — in relation to these six tendencies. Again, they’re not great BECAUSE they have these tendencies, but they do have them.

In the meantime, what movies do YOU consider to be great? What movies do you consider classics?

A particular use of these six tendencies is to examine new movies. For example, when I saw BEFORE SUNRISE in 1995, I knew it was a classic, because I knew that its elements wouldn’t date but improve with age. But this didn’t become a widespread belief until 2004, when the first sequel came out.

So — the other question — what recent movies do you think will stand the test of time?